IBM introduces the Selectric typewriter; that's the one with the
"bouncing ball" type.
April: The Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba by 1,600 rebels trained by
the US is a horrible disaster and embarrassment to President Kennedy.
April 12: Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes first human in
space during a single-orbit flight
May 5: Navy Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., blasts into space for
a 20 minute ride "out of this world" in the Freedom 7. The space race is under
way, but the U.S. is behind.
Coca-Cola introduces Sprite to
complete against 7-Up. Another race is under way.
Ray Kroc buys out the McDonald brothers and takes control over the
hamburger chain.
Johnson & Johnson introduces Tylenol.
August; East Germany closes the
border between East and West Berlin, and constructs a wall to prevent East Germans
from escaping to freedom.
March: President Kennedy creates the Peace Corps to improve
education, agriculture, and living standards in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
"Freedom Riders" travel throughout the South to
test and promote integration measures; many are assaulted and beaten
The New York Yankees win
the World Series by defeating Cincinnati in five games.
Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle compete to beat Babe Ruth's record
of 60 home runs. Maris hits number 61 on October 1.
The Academy award for Best Picture goes to
"West Side Story," which also wins several other awards.
First lasers developed
Ty Cobb and Gary Cooper die
Electric toothbrushes introduced;
"Frito" corn chips appear
"Barbie" gets a boyfriend when the
"Ken" doll is introduced
Movies: West Side Story, The Hustler,
Judgment at Nuremburg
Songs: Moon River, Where the Boys Are,
Will You Love Me Tomorrow, Blue Moon, The Lion Sleeps Tonight
TV Shows: Bullwinkle, Walt Disney's
Wonderful World of Color, Hazel, Dick Van Dyke Show, Top Cat
1962
Soviet missile bases detected in Cuba;
President Kennedy demands their removal. The confrontation is the closest the U.S. and
U.S.S.R. ever come to war. Crisis is resolved when Soviets agree to remove Cuban missiles
in exchange for removal of U.S. missiles in Turkey.
Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann executed in
Israel
U.S. establishes semi-permanent military
presence in Vietnam
Pope John XXIII convenes the Second Vatican
Council, which will modernize many practices of the Catholic Church when it concludes
three years later
Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, Jr. becomes first
American to achieve earth orbit
90% of Americans own a television set; ABC
begins broadcasting in color.
The first K-Mart and Wal-Mart open.
Polaroid introduces color film prints which
develop in 60 seconds.
August: Marilyn Monroe dies of an overdose of
sleeping pills. She is forever 36.
The Academy award for Best Picture goes to
"Lawrence of Arabia." Gregory Peck wins for Best Actor in "To Kill a
Mockingbird."
Morning sickness drug thalidomide found to be
causing birth defects
Phil Knight develops the first Nike running
shoe
Songs: Blowin' in the Wind, Go Away
Little Girl, Days of Wine and Roses, The Loco-Motion, Sherry, Monster Mash, Big Girls
Don't Cry
TV Shows: I've Got a Secret, Beverly
Hillbillies, Route 66, The Flinstones, Price is Right, Ben Casey